Night game, six home games on Central football slate

Football | July 8, 2014

PELLA — For the first time ever, the Central College football team will play a night game at Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

It’s part of a 2014 campaign that features six home games, the most-ever regular-season home contests the Dutch have played.

Central will take on Monmouth College (Ill.) in the home opener Sept. 13 at 6 p.m. While the field has been used for junior varsity night games, Central hasn’t played a home varsity game at night since Sept. 25, 1976 when games were still played at old A.N. Kuyper Stadium at a space now occupied by the Vermeer Science Center and the Kruidenier Center on campus. Schipper Stadium—which originally carried the Kuyper Stadium name--opened the following year. Night games were not an option then because the new stadium didn’t have lights.

“Obviously Central used to have night games back in the day so it’s kind of a nice thing to bring back,” coach Jeff McMartin said. “It can create a great atmosphere. The non-conference season is a good time to do this because the weather’s still warm. It’s not something we’re going to do on a regular basis but we’re excited that we can provide this opportunity for our students and fans.”

Central also opens the season at night, traveling to Lisle, Ill. for a first-ever meeting with Benedictine University (Ill.) Sept. 6 at 6:30 p.m. The Dutch play host to another first-time opponent, Maranatha Baptist (Wis.) Sept. 20, with the more-traditional 1 p.m. start time. Central then opens Iowa Conference play with a homecoming tilt with defending champion Wartburg College. Central’s other home games are Oct. 18 against Loras, Nov. 1 against Simpson College and Nov. 15 with the University of Dubuque Nov. 15. The latter contest is a 2 p.m. start to avoid any logistical conflicts with the NCAA Division III Central Regional Cross Country Championships which will be contested on Central’s A.N. Kuyper Athletics Complex course earlier that day.